Itanagar, Jan.9: The people of Lohit district in Arunachal Pradesh have a reason to smile as communication problem to the district was resolved on January 5 after the long-awaited Lohit Bridge(Alubari Bridge) was thrown open for light vehicles.
The deadline for construction of the 2.9 Km bridge over the mighty Lohit River along with the five Km road was extended from 2015 to November this year.
The last of the six lapsed deadlines was fixed for December 31 last year.
“At last we have got the bridge and our dream has been fulfilled. The long frustration, worries and pain are now things of the past. Eventually, we are connected to the mainstream,” said an elated commuter.
The people of the district expressed gratitude to the local MLA DR Mohesh Chai and DC Danish Ashraf for their relentless effort to complete the bridge.
They also had words of praise and appreciation for Chief Minister Pema Khandu and his government for their intervention.
The Hyderabad-based Navayuga Private Engineering Company, engaged in the construction work of the bridge, cited rain as the biggest impediment which adversely affected the pace of work.
Assistant project manager Venketesh Rao said that only the bridge part had been opened.
He said ‘unavoidable circumstances’ had prevented the company from handing over the entire seven-km road cum bridge from Chowkham tri-junction to Digaru to the people on time.
“We have got extension to complete the work by November this year from the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highway,” Rao added.
